The Indian Coast Guard seized three vessels off Mumbai in an operation that uncovered an international oil smuggling network spanning multiple countries. The vessels, suspected of frequently changing identities to avoid detection, are set to be taken to Mumbai for further investigation by Indian Customs and other law enforcement agencies. Preliminary findings suggest the vessels were part of a scheme involved in the illegal transfer of large quantities of oil from conflict zones.
The operation, carried out over two days, revealed a complex setup where oil was moved between ships at sea, evading authorities. The Coast Guard’s thorough examination of the vessels, including electronic data and crew interrogations, unveiled the entire illicit operation. The smuggling syndicate utilized a method where inexpensive oil was transported by sea vessels and then transferred to motor tankers in international waters.
The Coast Guard’s technology-driven surveillance systems initially detected suspicious activity by a motor tanker within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, leading to the identification of two more vessels involved in illegal ship-to-ship oil transfers. The syndicate’s handlers, operating across borders, coordinated the sale and movement of cargo between ships at sea, evading taxes owed to coastal states.
